Serum retinol levels of persons aged 4-74 years from three Hispanic groups

Previous research suggests that Hispanics in this country may have poor vitamin A status. Using serum retinol data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we examined the vitamin A status of Mexican Americans (MA), Cubans, and Puerto Ricans (PR) aged 4-74 y. MA had lower mean serum retinol levels and higher prevalences of serum retinol in the range of 0.70-1.01 mumol/L than did Cubans in several age-sex groups. The prevalence (or percentage) of serum retinol in a range indicating possible risk of functional impairment was not elevated in any of the Hispanic groups except the females aged 18-44 y. However, a high percentage of children and adolescents in the three Hispanic groups had serum retinol values in ranges that might indicate less-than-optimal vitamin A status. Determination of vitamin A status requires a more definitive assessment than by serum vitamin A alone.